Composite panel and steel element therefor



' Feb. 3, 1942." M. s. HILPERT 9 9 I COMPOSITE PANEL AND STEEL ELEMENT THEREFOR Filed March 23, 193av s Sheets-Sheet 1 Z-' zz I T 9 f w J a y g wa B I B: v I3 E g 7 i ,3

'- Via 'Jy- 7' I iga, F3 10? ZSfinen'tor Mier GeoaHiZperZ,

Feb. 3, 1942. M. G. HILPERT 2,271,592

COMPOSITE PANEL AND STEEU-ELEMENT THEREFOR YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIlI/I/A I FlEQoZZ- fymme/r/ca/ I J .Me ier GemHiZfierZ, 1 /2919.

A T'TOENE Y.

Feb. 3, 1942. M. G. HILPERT COMPOSITE PANEL AND STEEL'ELEMENT THEREFOR Filed March 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I i 5 4 I r 4 I i i I 5 m m MW m W ,1 INVENTO/E liie'r GeaHzZperi/ Patented F ch. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPOSITE PANEL AND STEEL ELEMEN'i THEREFOR 10 Claims.

This invention relate to composite panels and structural steel elements therefor such as girders, beams, joists, studs, and the like thatvare to have their compression flanges or edges fully I Figure 5 is an end view of the form of the mor partly encased in concrete or the like, or which are to have concrete or like slabs superimposed thereon, as, for example, in the construction of floors, roofs, walls, or other parts of various different structures such as buildings, bridges and the like, and has for its general object to provide novel means 'to insure positive bonds between the compression flanges or edges of such structural elements and the concrete or the like which is superimposed upon or which encases .said top flanges or edges, whereby the structural element and the concrete or the like cooperate to provide composite girders, beams,

joists or the like to provide with the slab a composite panel which is of superior strength and highly resistant to stresses of service to which they may be subjected.

According to the invention provision is made for fastening to the top flanges or edge of structural elements such as girders, beams, joists and the like, cross rods to extend beyond the sides of such elements into the concrete or the like that is to be superimposed upon or that is to encase said top flanges or edges, whereby the structural elements and the concrete orthe like cooperate to provide composite structural elements, and in this conne'ction a'special object of the invention is to provide a simple means whereby the cross rod may be applied and fastened to structural elements rapidly, easily, securely and rigidy, to the end that the invention may be employed economically and will serve its purposes in a highly eflicient manner.

With the foregoing and various other objects stood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in related views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an end portion of 1 a girder, beam, joist or the like having cross rods fastened thereto in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the girder, beam,

joist. or the like shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating an alternative form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3.

.cros rods to the girders, beamajoists .or the like.

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of the fastening means illustrated in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 6.

Figure 9 is a view at right angles to Fig. 8 of the fastening means shown in the latter figure.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating an alternative form of rod fastening means.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Fig. '7 of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 10.

Figures 13 through 18 are views similar to Figs. 6 and 10 illustrating other possible alternative forms of the invention.

Figure 19 illustrates in side elevation and plan a cut nail which may be employed as the key element of the present rod fasten g means.

Figure 20 is a sectional view lustrating a construction in which a slab of concrete or the like is superimposed upon a girder, beam,'joist or the like equipped with cross rods in accordance with the invention.

a Figure 21 is a cross section omthe line 2i-2l of Fig. 20.

Figure 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21 illustrating another alternative embodiment; of the invention.

Figure 23 is a sectional view illustrating the invention as embodied in a so-called soflit construction.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23 illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 25 is a view similar to Fig. 24 illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

Figures 26 through 30 are detailviews illustrating difierent' manners of adding. bottom flange or chord material to girders, beams, joists 60 and the like to equalize values or strength of the large concrete top flange additions to the tops of such elements. I

Figure 31 is a view similar to Figs. 8 and 12 illustrating another alternative form .of the invention.

Fig. 33 is a view similar to Fig. 32 showing a cross rod fastened in place.

Figure 34 is a plan view of the blank from which the rod holder element of Figs. 31 to 33 is formed.

Figures 35 through 38 are sectional views illustrating the incorporation in different building structures of inverted T-beams, joists or the like equipped with cross rods in accordance with the Figs. 31 to 33 form of the invention.

Figure 39 is a plan view of a structural steel building floor lay-out in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 40 through 42 are sectional views illustrating other ways of fastening cross rods to girders, beams, joists and the like.

According to each of the different forms of the invention, a structural element, such as a girder,

beam, joist or the like, is designated as A andv cross rods secured to the top thereof are designated as B. 1

The cross .rods B are used in cases where the structural elements either have concrete or like slabs superimposed thereon, as, for example, in the construction of the floors of certain types of bridges and buildings, or in cases where the top flanges or chords of the structural elements are entirely or partly encased in concrete or.the like as, for example, in the'construction of the floors, roofs and other parts of buildings and other structures, and, as will be understood, said cross rods, when properly designed and attached to the structural element by embedment in the concrete or the like, serve to provide proper bond between the structural elements and the concrete or the like to the end that the structural elements and the concrete or the like cooperate to form composite structures characterized by great strength and resistance to stresses and deflections.

be of any suitable length,

The cross rods may sectional area and sectional shape, depending upon the dimensions of the structural elements to which they are applied and the service they are to perform, and they may be fastened to the structural elements in any desired manner and in any desired spaced apart relationship. For example, they may be welded, riveted, bolted or otherwise positively secured directly to the structural elements as indicated by Fig. of the drawings, or, as indicated by Figs. 41 and 42 of in the case of inverted T-girders, beams, joists or the like. If, on the other hand, the cross rods are fastened to abutments such as the abutment Hi, the most practicable'manner of fastening the abutments to the structural elements is by welding. However, to weld cross rods or abutments to structural elements at a constructional site is seldom feasible. and, in any event, usually involves complications which can be avoided only by doing the welding at a factory or other more of the slot of any given saddle element, said rod appropriateplacer But ifthe rods on abutments are welded or even otherwise secured to struc-' tural elements at a place remote from the constructional site where the structural elements are to be used, there become involved various other complications anent the transportation and handling of the elements. Moreover, definite positioning of the cross rods along the structural elements in accordance with the actual horizontal shearing forces existent at different points along said elements is essential in the interest of economy, but if dependence is placed on work- 'men at a constructional site to properly position elements at a constructional site through the instrumentality of tie wires or similar means which may not afford a truly rigid fastening of the rods to the structural elements, a more practical and a generally more satisfactory practice is to provide the structural elements at the factory or at some other appropriate place of fabrication, with means which permit the cross rods to be substantially rigidly fastened to said elements in a simple manner at a constructional site, which definitely predetermine the positioning of said cross rods relative to the structural elements, and which do not cause complication in the transportation and handling of said elements, but permit them to be transported and handled with practically the same facility as ordinary structural elements.

One practical means permitting the structural elements to be handled and transported without complications and yet providing for practically rigid fastening of cross rods thereto at definitely predetermined positions and in a very facile manner at a constructional site, is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings, By reference to these figures, it will be observed'that the structural element A, such as a girder, beam, joist or the like, has welded upon the top flange l2 thereof, along the middle of-said flange at spaced points (Fig. 1), a series of saddle elements l3 which are or may be duplicates of one another and each of which comprises a metal body of suitable thickness welded at its bottom to the flange l2 andhaving formed therein an upwardly inclined slot H which opens through the edge of the saddle element remote from the adjacent end of the structural element.

The inner or closed end ofthe slot H of each of the saddle elements 13 corresponds in size and shape to the cross sectional size and shape of the cross rods B to be fastened to the structural element A, and in this connection the said inner or closed ends of said slots preferably, but not necessarily, are suitably machined so that the cross rods will engage snugly therewith. Moreover, the .top of the inner or closed end of each slot is disposed above the edge of its mouth or open end, or, in other words, a lip I! at the top of the open end of each slot extends downwardly below the top of the slot. Therefore, when a cross rod is seated in the said inner or closed end forming the bar and Fig. illustrates that the cannot be moved horizontally out of said slot because of the obstruction by the lip l5, but, on the contrary, can only be removed by downward and outward movement. Thus, by engaging the medial portion of across rod B in a slot I4 and by then driving a suitable wedge I6 between the cross rod and the flange l2, the cross rod first is urged upwardly until it seats snugly in the inner or closed end of the slot and then becomes effectively locked by the wedge l6 against removal from the slot, becoming at the same time so securely interlocked with'the saddle element as to .be quite rigid with the same and the structural element A.

Ordinary wire or cut nails may be employed as the wedges IE or special wedges may be provided. As illustrated in Fig. 1, wedges of substantially U-shape as viewed in plan are very suitable for use with singlesaddle elements as shown in said figure because they may straddle the saddle elements and their respective legs may engage the cross rods at the respective sides of the saddle elements, thus contributing toward obtaining particularly rigid interlocks between the cross rods and the saddle elements and, consequently, between the cross rods and the structural element.

The saddle elements l3 do not project appreciably from the structural elements and, therefore, oifer little or no hindrance to transportation and handling of the structural elements in usual manners. At the same time, they aflord a means whereby the cross rods may be quickly, easily and rigidly applied to the structural elements at definite, predetermined locations along said elements at a constructional site. In this latter connection Fig. 1 indicates that the saddle elements are disposed progressively more closely together toward the ends and more widely apart toward the middle of the structural element A, in accordance with increase in shearing forces toward the ends of said element. For any given installation the cross rods B should be fastened to the structural elements at definite locations which may, by calculations, be accuratelypre- 7 determined. The saddle elements are, of course,

placed at these locations. Therefore, said saddle elements aflford not only a means of expeditiously and eflectively applying the crossrods at a constructional site, but, what is particularly important, they serve to accurately predetermine, the locations of said rods along the structural elements.

The saddle element 13 may readily be stamped from sheet metal or they may be formed in any other suitable manner, and instead of being arranged in a single row along the middle of the flange l2 of a structural element they may be arranged in two rows or, in other words, in laterally spaced pairs along the structural elements, as indicated in Figs. 3 and '7 of the drawings. If said saddle elements are arranged in pairs the wedges 16 are employed between said saddle elements and, as is obvious,'said wedges may be either in the form of nails or of the U-shaped form illustrated in detail in Figs. 10 and 11, or of any other suitable form.

Figs. 10, 10a and 11 illustrate saddle elements I 3a which may be produced by rolling a suitable bar blank to a cross sectional shape corresponding to the desired side elevational shape of the saddle and then cutting said bar transversely to provide the saddle elements of desired thickness or width. Fig. 10:: illustrates by dotted and full lines initial and final roll passes employed in saddle elements l3a are, in all essential respects, substantially duplicates of the saddle elements I3. As will be understood, the saddle elements |3a may be employed singly or in pairs and any suitable wedge devices may be employed in conjunction with the same. Moreover, and as will be further understood, the saddle elements, regardless of their specific form, may be welded to the structural elements or may be riveted, bolted or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. I

In some instances, the structural elements A may be devoid of top flanges. For example, the structural elements may be inverted T-shape in cross section. In that event saddle elements such as the saddle elements [3 or l3a may be welded or otherwise suitably fastened upon the top edges or against the sides of the webs of the structural elements or the saddle elements may be cross sectionally of inverted U-shape to straddle the top portion of the webs of the structural elements. A saddle element Nb of inverted U-shapein cross section is illustrated in Figs. 31 to 33 of the drawings, and Figs. 31 and 32 illustrate by dotted lines that a suitable wedge block l1 may be inserted into a saddle element of this kind and may rest.upon the top edge of the flange of the structural element A to which the saddle element is to be applied to hold the saddle element properly positioned relative to the structural element during welding of the saddle element. The side walls of the saddle elements I322 are provided with cross rod accommodating slots Mb as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 12 of the drawings, and the cross rods are secured in said saddle elements [3b by suitable wedges IBb driven between the cross rods and the tops of the webs of the structural elements, asillustrated in Figs. 31 and 33. Obviously, the side walls of the saddle elements l3b may be sprung inwardly or outwardly relative to each other to receive therebetween the top portions of structural element webs of difierent thickness. Obviously, too, the. structural elements I31) may be formed by stamping blanks as illustrated in Fig.

34 and by bending the blanks upon themselves into inverted U-shape.

In some cases, instead of providing structural elements with only a single series of cross rods B disposed in a common horizontal plane, it may be desirable to provide the structural elements with two or more series of cross rods disposed in difierent horizontal planes. If so, provision for this may readily be made by equipping the structural elements with two or more series of saddle elements of any of the types described, but of different heights. This is indicated by the cross rod arrangement illustrated in Figs. 35 and 37 of the drawings.

Figs. 13 to 17 illustrate various altemative forms of saddle, elements which may be employed. Fig. 13 illustrates a saddle element I30 of inverted U-shape in side elevation welded to a structure element and having a cross rod receiving opening of rectangular shape; Fig. 17 illustrates a similar saddle element l3d having foot formations I8 at its bottom and fastened to a structural element by means of rivets passing through said foot formations; Fig. 14 illustrates a similarsaddle element l3e welded to a structural element and having a cross rod receiving opening with a rounded top; Fig. 15 illustrates a saddle element l3j of inverted U-shape welded to a structural element and formed by bending a bar into inverted U-shape; and Fig. 16 illustrates 'tation of the invention to a structural element ployed to tie togetherndifferent structural elea saddle element I3 in the form of a ring weld ed to a structural element. According. to either of Figs. 13 to 1'7 the cross rods may be fastened within the saddle elements by suitable. keys, such as nails, driven between the cross rods and any appropriate wall of any of the saddle elements. Figure 18 indicates, as heretofore mentioned, that saddle elements of the Figs. 6 or 10 type may be riveted or bolted to the structural elements.

- elements may have plates'20- or bars 2| welded,

riveted or otherwise suitably fastened either upon tops or upon the bottoms of the bottom flanges thereof.

Figures 20 and '21 illustrate a construction, '25 such, for example, as a ridge floor, in which a slab 2| of concrete or -t e like is superimposed upon a structural element A equipped, in accordance with the invention, with cross rods 13 which are embedded in the concrete or the like, and Fig. 22 illustrates a similar construction in which the saddle elementsare carried by a plate fastened to the top of the structural element.

Figure 23 illustrates a so-calledsofllt constmction in which the structural element A is encased in concrete or the like and in which some of the cross rods B are deflected downward ly relative to other of said cross rods, as indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 24 illustrates the adap- 0 encased in concrete or the like according to the disclosure of my prior application, Serial No.

123,932; Fig. 25 illustrates a construction similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 23 but in which the bottom of the structural element A is provided. with an equalizing metalplate 20; and Figs.

to 38 illustrate constructions similar to Figs. 23

and 24 except that the structural element is of inverted -T-shape in cross section and has two series of rods fastened thereto at difi'erentelevations by saddle elements of the'type shown in Figs. 31 to 33. On the other hand, Fig. 39 illustrates that some of the cross bars B may be emments A and that other of said cross rods may extend as brace rods diagonally between adjacent structural elements.

Asillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the cross rods B i may have fastened thereto, parallel or substantially parallel to the structural element, other rods 22 of anysuitable length and of any suit. able sectional size and shape, and located at any desired point or points, to, in effect, increase the 'top flange section of the structural element and increases in strength -of various structures may be obtained and, at the same time, substantial": sayings'may befobtaimd inthe amount f .steel 16 forces mainly by their resistance to shearing forces. 7

Concrete and the like, the cheapest construc tion material, has excellent and usable compression strength and but feeble and questionable tension value, hence wherever concrete is indicated or necessary for certain functional services as floors, roofs, and certain walls in bending it is evident that by the use of this invention the concrete compression values may be gathered trated, by using. an existent and placed material for an additional servicenamely, flange compression-obviously to the end that steel will be required only for tension flange, web, and-saddles, since the cross or shear rods are usually existent as a part of the floor or roof construction.

Without further description it is thought that the invention will be readily understood and that the various advantages of the same will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art toalong, said saddles having cross rod accommo-.

dating formations cloud 3 at their tops, cross rods seated in said formations, and wedge keys interposed between the structural element and the cross rods and locking the latter, in said formations. i a

2. In combination with a structural steel beam element, saddles secured rigidly to the top of said element at definitely spaced points therealong,'said saddles each having a cross rod accommodating' slot closed at its top and opening, through an edge of thesaddle element for insertion of a cross..rod, the top of each slot being disposed above the top of its mouth, a cross rodpseated in the closed top P rtion of the slot of each,sadd le element, and a wedge key interposed between the t p of the structural element and each cross, rod and locking the latter in theirslq 4 3,111; mbination with a structural steel beam element, saddles of inverted U-sbape' straddling w or said elementand secured rigidly there at definitely spaced .pointstherealong,

said saddles ats including-a "side walls i? each having a cross rod accommodating slot closed at its top and opening through an edge of the wall for insertion of a cross rod.

4. The combinationas set forth in claim 3 in which the tops of the slots are disposed above their mouths.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 including a cross rod seated in the top portions of the slots of the side walls of each saddle element, and a wedge key interposed between the top of the structural element and each cross rod and locking the latter in the tops of its related slots.

6. In combination with a structural steel beam element, saddles secured rigidly to the top of said element at definitely spaced points therealong, said saddles having cross rod accommodating formations, cross rods seated in said formations, and wedge keys interposed between the'structural element and the cross rods and locking the latter in said formations, the cross rod accommodating formations of different saddles being disposed at different elevations relative to the structural element.

7. In combination with a structural steel beam element, slotted saddle elements longitudinally extending with respect to the beam and rigidly connected therewith along the top thereof, transverse cross members seated in .the slots of said saddle elements, and wedge key devices interposed between said structural element and said cross members, locking said cross members in the slots of said saddle elements.

8. A structure for composite floors and the like, comprising a plurality of spaced beams, saddle elements longitudinally disposed with respect to the beams and rigid therewith at points'spaced along the top thereof, a plurality of cross rods seated in certain of said saddle elements, diagonal rods seated in other of said saddle elements of adjacent beams, and means locking said cross rods, and diagonal rods in said saddle elements.

9. A composite floor, wall, or like panel comprising: a plurality of spaced beams, saddle elements longitudinally disposed with respect to the beams and rigid therewith at points spaced along the compression side thereof, a plurality of cross rods each seated in certain of said saddle elements and projecting laterally thereof a distance less than the spacing of said beams, other cross rods each extending across a plurality of said beams and each seated in a saddle element on each of said beams, means locking said cross rods in said saddle elements, and an initially plastic slab embedding said cross rods and supported on said beams.

10. A composite concrete and metallic panel structure, comprising, a slab having metallic reenforcement embedded therein, said reenforcement including a structural beam element, saddle elements rigid in the direction of their height having their longitudinal axes extending longitudinally of the beam and rigidly secured at spaced intervals to the compression portion thereof, said saddle elements having rod receiving seats in the direction of their thickness and disposed transversely of the beam, and cross rods seated in said saddle elements.

MEIER GEORGE HILPERT. 

